MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Despite a spirited, hard-fought effort, Northern State was able to edge MSUM in four sets at Nemzek Fieldhouse on Tuesday night.

In a first set that saw both MSUM and Northern State trading blows, the score was eight apiece early. A swift Dragon run gave them a 13-9 advantage leading to a Northern State timeout. The Wolves fought back into the set, leading to a Dragon timeout with the score at 18-18. In the end, the Wolves took the set 25-22.
 
The Wolves went on to command most of the second set despite a few Dragon runs. By set's end, Northern State took it 25-16. 
 
In a deciding third set, the Dragons refused to lay down, taking a commanding 14-8 lead over the Wolves. Much of that lead was thanks to senior Amanda Carlson. Playing in just her second game of the season, Carlson registered two kills, a block and a service ace in the set. Two straight service aces from Tori Thompson and a kill from Abby Thompson put the Dragons in front 19-11. MSUM would send it to a fourth set, winning the third 25-21 thanks to a Bridget Witzmann kill to close it out.
 
With their backs against the wall once again, the Dragons continued to attack the Northern State defense. Service aces from Witzmann and Halle Erickson helped MSUM take an early advantage. Northern State would battle back to take a 15-13 lead midway through the set. Despite a hard-fought effort from the Dragons in the latter half of the set, the Wolves scraped by with a 25-22 win. Northern State took the match 3-1.
 
Witzmann led the Dragons with 13 kills, followed by 11 kills and three service aces from Tori Thompson. Emily Skalicky tallied 29 assists while hitting .667 for the game. In her return to the court, Amanda Carlson notched four kills, a service ace, two total blocks and three digs. 
 
The Dragons fall to 7-17 overall and 4-12 in NSIC competition. Their next action will be Friday when they welcome St. Cloud State to Nemzek Fieldhouse. Match time is scheduled for 6 p.m. that evening.